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Emotional, Denise revealed: 'We gave up drinking together because we wanted to be healthier - but looking back we were both alcoholics. We just never admitted it to ourselves.'

Alcoholics: Denise has admitted that she and Lincoln have alcohol addiction issues

Denise is adamant that the couple found themselves relying on alcohol, to help them deal with the public interest in their romance.

They got together while Denise was still with her ex-husband, Tim Healy who she was married to for 24 years and has two sons by.

Visibly shaken, Denise described the moment she thought she was losing her new love.

'He went completely white and crumpled on the sofa, putting his head in his hands, it was deathly.'

It was especially frightening for Lincoln as his dad died of a heart attack at the same age.

Unhinged: Denise's wild antics made her an infamous addition to any guestlist

Thankfully, after Lincoln was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital and given an ECG and blood tests, it was revealed that he had suffered a panic seizure, and there was no lasting damage to his major organs.

The actress, who first found fame in the late 1990s playing pub landlady Natalie Horrocks in Coronation Street, has long suffered from mental health and addiction issues.

Her career has been marred by cocaine addiction, and she also suffered post natal depression after giving birth to her oldest son 24 years ago.

For a long time, Denise was tee total, but decided to start drinking again at special events and celebrity parties, adamant that she would be able to control her urges.

But her drunken antics on the red carpet - and the Big Brother house - have made her infamous.

Heavy drinker: Over the years, Denise has been pictured enjoying a drink or two at celebrity events

She has also flashed her bra to paparazzi photographers when on nights out with the other Loose Women panelists, and been seen grinding men less than half her age on bar crawls around Soho.

Speaking candidly to Woman magazine last year, Denise said: 'After a night out, my first thought
in the morning is: "Oh God, Denise, what did you do?" I am mortified
when I see pictures of me flashing my knickers...

'It embarrasses my kids. I am an embarrassment.'

It was a drunken outburst that almost cost her her fledgling romance, and led Denise to tell the world she had quit the booze last summer.

Getting sober: Denise and Lincoln are more determined than ever to beat their booze demons

Lincoln, apparently disgusted at being at the end of an incoherent and abusive diatribe, videoed his blonde girlfriend's string of insults and then played it back to her the next day.

Speaking to the Daily Star, a source close to Denise said: 'Seeing herself drunk and out of control, slurring horrible abuse at the man she loves was a real wake-up call.'

'It was truly shocking for her to see the kind of vile behaviour she is capable of when she has a few drinks inside her and she knew if she didn’t change she would risk losing Lincoln for ever.'

Behind the bar: Denise starred in Coronation Street as pub landlady Natalie Horrocks in the late 1990s

VIDEO Denise Welch gives a tour of her home in her own video blog

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'I am an alcoholic': Denise Welch admits she has addiction issues after toy boy fiance's heart scare made her reassess her lifestyle